Rare Heirloom Flowers

Billowing masses of lavender blue starry flowers are a sublime expression of early summer’s lush beauty. This classic bellflower is a strong and enduring perennial, at home in cottage gardens and in front of shrubs and old roses. Deer avoid it!

Shimmering sprays of silvery pink flowers open in late fall from dark mauve incurved buds. The leaves turn dark maroon as the weather turns cold, contrasting with the soft pastel blooms. A rare selection for extending the flowering season in your garden.

Once called Golden Feather, this rare heirloom has striking chartreuse scalloped leaves capped with masses of small daisy flowers. The earthy, mossy scented foliage is in the group once called "Nose Twisters". I, for one, love its scent.

A rare older variety of a wonderful group of fuchsias, the triphyllas, this coral rose selection is more sun and heat tolerant than other types and attracts hummingbirds to the nectar rich tubular flowers. Clusters of flowers open all summer long, making a perfect centerpiece for showy containers combined with spiller 'Lava Rose' coleus. Afternoon shade and mulch keeps it cool in southern areas.

A beautiful upright fuchsia with delicate small flowers with pale pink sepals and mauve pink corolla. The flowers hang like glowing dew drops against the deep green foliage. Perfect for a planter mixed with silver dichondra

Grown since the Victorian era when it was recommended as "useful for covering pillars." Today it is enjoyed in pots placed in bright shade, later brought inside when temps fall. Lovely glossy green small leaves layered along the arching branches are dripping with clusters of rosy flowers at their tips.

Once called Fraxinella or Burning Bush, gas plant was commonly grown in England in the late 16th century. I adore these plants for the glossy green, impeccable foliage and the tall wands of mauve-pink flowers accented with violet veining and long upwardly curving stamens. As the old names suggest, the volatile oils released by the ripening star-shaped seedpods can be ignited, if all atmospheric conditions are right. Patience is needed to germinate (up to 6 months) and grow these, but an extremely long lived, gorgeous shrub results. Grow in sweet, well-drained, rich soil and do not disturb the roots.

Queen Victoria's favorite geranium, it is said, 'Appleblossom Rosebud' has large flowers with clusters of tightly gathered petals, all tipped in rose pink. Sturdy and vigorous. A top 10 bestselling plant!

This rare geranium should be in everyone's collection, for it has a lovely compact habit, gorgeous but simple pure red flowers, and the leaves are outstanding! Dark green ruffle-edged leaves are traced with one fine black ring. A rare treasure.

Beautiful 'Dolly Varden' combines softly patterned leaves ribboned in pink, sage green and cream, and elegant stems holding painted coral red single petals in a full head of flowers. A rare antique geranium available only from us.

We are amazed by the flower power of this award winning variety, and we keep it in clay pots on the windowsill in winter to enjoy it all year round. Crinkled leaves of sage green are banded by creamy white and show off the single salmon blooms to perfection.

Regal, or Martha Washington, geraniums originated in England in the 1870's. This variety has large flowers of strawberry and cream that bloom in spring and early summer. After bloom, keep in a cooler spot, protected from rain.

Introduced in 1877, it was described in 1892 as “A perfectly distinct variety; center of leaf bright golden-yellow, with a broad margin of deep green.” A free-blooming selection great in mixed containers!

A rare bird's egg geranium, named for the freckles on each soft pink single petal, of a type described as "New" in Peter Henderson's 1901 catalog, Glowing chartreuse leaves brighten up the porch or winter windowsill where it is best in a sunny cool room. Our exclusive!

Dazzling neon pink flowers above chartreuse foliage, what could be brighter? This flamboyant geranium is a strong grower, naturally branching, and a reliable bloomer. Wait until soil is dry before watering and deadhead to keep it tidy. Overwinter in a cool sunny room if you have such a treasure!

Also called 'Dr. Livingston', this variety has been found to contain almost 100 times as much citronella as the publicized citrosa. Take advantage of its insect repelling properties and place a few pots on the patio. The scent is strong lemony-rose; the flowers are lavender with purple spots. Listed in an 1871 American garden catalog.

Also called Mrs. Henry Cox, this is the brightest tricolor leaf geranium around, even after over 130 years! It was the favorite of garden writer and geranium enthusiast Helen Van Pelt Wilson, who wrote in the 1940s-1960s. Excellent house or patio plant, with spectacular foliage and single salmon flowers. Pinch to shape.

This variety of Helen's Flower has lovely coppery-red daisy blooms that bloom for a long time in late summer and fall, adding just the right contrast to monkshood, veronicastrum and lavender blue asters in moist, well-drained soil. A stalwart of northern gardens it is an easy care choice. Deadhead to prolong bloom, or shear after bloom and divide every 4 years or so.

A sensational almond extract fragrance emanates from the lilac blooms, sweetening the warm summer air, especially as evening draws close. This old-fashioned favorite graced our fragrant garden this year and drew the attentions of both Tiger Swallowtails and Black Swallowtails, tipping this way and that as they clung to the flower clusters to feast on nectar. Poisonous.